Toilet support

ABSTRACT

A toilet support comprising an arm pivoted at one end adjacent the pivot of the toilet seat and fastened at the other end to the seat by having a portion thereof extend into an opening in the arm rather than being fastened to the underside of the seat. Novel mounting means are provided for one end of the arm.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,921,236 Klein Nov. 25, 1975 T01LET SUPPORT 3,442,552 5/1969 Lehner 247 334 3,473,174 /1969 Cool 4/251 Invent: Kenneth Plymouth Mlch- 3,474,471 10/1969 Matibag 4 254 [73] Assignee: C. D. Sparling C0., Plymouth, Mich. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1974 522 9/1875 Italy 297/331 [21] Appl' No; 534752 Primary ExaminerHenry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & [52] U.S. Cl 4/254; 4/134 ch t [51] Int. Cl. E03D 11/00 [58] Field of Search 4/1, 254, 134, 68, [57] ABSTRACT A tollet support comprlsmg an .arm plvoted at one end [56] References Cited ad acent the p1vot of the tollet seat and fastened at the other end to the seat by havlng a port1on thereof ex- UNITED STATES PATENTS tend into an opening in the arm rather than being fas- 67,107 7/1867 Dibble 297/336 t d to the underside of the seat, Novel mounting 3,209,376 10/1965 means are provided for one end of the arm. 3,323,144 6/1967 Ferris, Jr..... 3,392,411 7/1968 Hansen 4/134 X 14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent N0v. 25,1975 Sheet1of2 3,921,236

U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,921,236

1, TOILET SUPPORT This invention relates to toilet supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the handling of. medical patients, the aged and other persons with handicaps, it is heretofore been suggested that armrests be provided adjacent the toilets to facilitate the use thereof by such persons. One type of armrest that has been suggested includes a handgripping portion and spaced ends, one end being pivoted adjacent the pivot of the tiolet seat and the other resting upon the toilet or being fastened to the underside of the toilet seat. It has been found that where the arm is fastened to the'underside of the seat, the seat tends to become weakened and since the entire force is placed upon the fastener such as the screws that hold the arm to the seat. I

Accordingly, among the objects of the invention are to provide a toilet support which is stronger, easier to clean and includes novel mounting means.

SUMMARY In accordance with the invention, the arm is pivoted at one end adjacent the pivot of the toilet seat and at the other end is fastened to the seat by having a portion thereof extend into an opening in the arm rather than being fastened to the underside of the seat. Novel mounting means are provided for one end of the arm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a toilet embodying the toilet seat.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1, parts being broken away.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, the invention is adapted to be provided on a toilet of conventional construction having a toilet seat 11 pivoted by a hinge assembly 12 to the toilet. An arm 13 having spaced ends l4, l5 and an intermediate hand-gripping portion 16 is mounted as presently described to provide support for the user.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the arm 13 is generally tubular. The hinge means 12 comprises an integral body 17 which has a base 18 and spaced integral portions 19 that are enlarged. A pivot pin 20 extends between the spaced portions and has its ends extending into openings 21 to provide the pivot for the toilet seat 11. Nylon washers 22 are interposed between the toilet seat and the spaced portions 19. Each spaced portion 19 includes an opening 23 extending laterally into which the end 14 of the arm is directed. Spaced plastic sleeves 24 are interposed between the end 14 and the sides of the opening 23 and screws 25 are threaded radially inwardly to engage the sleeves and thereby provide a yielding force tending to hold the arm in any position so that the arm will not drop by gravity with any force. A plug 25 of plastic is positioned in the end of the arm 13 and supports a second plug 26 into which a screw 27 is threaded to hold spaced nylon washers 28 and an intermediate washer 29 in spaced relation to the end of the arm 13. A lock screw 30 is threaded radially inwardly into the space so that the arm is thereby retained against axial outward movement.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the other end 15 of the arm has a plastic plug 31 frictionally held therein and having a tapered portion 32 that supports tube 33 of smaller cross section. The tube 33 extends into an opening 34 of the seat 11, the opening extending substantially midway between the sides of the seat. A pin 35 is inserted in the tube 33 before insertion in the opening 34, the pin having an enlarged head 36 with an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the outer diameter of the tube 33 so that both the tube and the pin frictionally engage the opening 34 of the seat. The opening 34 has a countersunk portion 37 into which the reduced straight end 38 of the plug 31 extends.

It has been found that by an arrangement wherein the end of the arm 13 extends into 34, the strength of the entire assembly is substantially increased over a construction wherein the end of the arm is fastened to the underside of the seat by screws and the like. In addition, the underside of the seat is easier to clean and does not tend to collect dirt.

I claim:

1. In a toilet support for use in a toilet bowl having hinge means hinging a toilet seat to the bowl about a hinge axis, the combination comprising an arm having spaced ends and an intermediate hand-gripping portion.

bearing means for mounting one end of said arm adjacent said hinge means, the other end of said arm being held in said seat said toilet seat having a laterally extending opening,

and means extending from the other end of said arm into said opening whereby when said arm is raised. the toilet seat is raised or vice versa.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including friction means yieldingly opposing the movement of said arm.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm has a portion of solid cross section extending into said opening.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm is tubular,

said arm having a portion of reduced cross section extending into said opening.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said portion of reduced cross section is tubular and extends into said opening,

and a pin in said tubular portion having an enlarged head frictionally engaging the sides of said opening.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the other end of said arm extends into said toilet seat substantially midway between the side. edges thereof.

7. The combination set forth in claim I wherein said bearing means comprises an integral housing having integral spaced bearing portions,

a pivot pin extending between said spaced portions and forming the hinge means for the toilet seat. each said spaced portions have a laterally extending opening into which the one end of the arm extends. plastic sleeves interposed between said one end of said arm and the sides of said opening,

screws extending into and engaging said sleeves to form yielding means resisting the pivotal movement of said arm.

8. The combination set forth in claim'8 including means for locking said one end of said arm against axial withdrawal from said opening.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises spaced portions. and a laterally extending member interposed between said spaced portions and extending from said spaced portion of said housing.

10. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said pivot pin is provided in a reduced portion of the opening in said enlarged integral bearing portion of said housing.

11. In a toilet support for use in a toilet bowl having hinge means hinging a toilet seat to the bowl about a hinge axis. the combination comprising an arm having spaced ends and an intermediate hand-gripping portion.

bearing means for mounting one end of said arm adjacent said hinge means the other end of said arm being held in said opening in said seat.

said bearing means comprising a bearing portion. a pivot pin extending between said spaced portions and forming the hinge means for the toilet seat. said spaced portion having laterally extending opening into which the one end of the arm extends, plastic sleeves interposed between said one end of said arm and the sides of said opening, screws extending into and engaging said sleeves to form yielding means resisting the pivotal movement of said arm.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 including means for locking said one end of said arm against axial withdrawal from said opening.

13. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises spaced portions. and a laterally extending member interposed between said spaced portions and extending from said spaced portion of said housing.

14. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said pivot pin is provided in a reduced portion of the opening in said bearing portion. 

1. In a toilet support for use in a toilet bowl having hinge means hinging a toilet seat to the bowl about a hinge axis, the combination comprising an arm having spaced ends and an intermediate hand-gripping portion, bearing means for mounting one end of said arm adjacent said hinge means, the other end of said arm being held in said seat said toilet seat having a laterally extending opening, and means extending from the other end of said arm into said opening whereby when said arm is raised, the toilet seat is raised or vice versa.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including friction means yieldingly opposing the movement of said arm.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm has a portion of solid cross section extending into said opening.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm is tubular, said arm having a portion of reduced cross section extending into said opening.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said portion of reduced cross section is tubular and extends into said opening, and a pin in said tubular portion having an enlarged head frictionally engaging the sides of said opening.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the other end of said arm extends into said toilet seat substantially midway between the side edges thereof.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said bearing means comprises an integral housing having integral spaced bearing portions, a pivot pin extending between said spaced portions and forming the hinge means for the toilet seat, each said spaced portions have a laterally extending opening into which the one end of the arm extends, plastic sleeves interposed between said one end of said arm and the sides of said opening, screws extending into and engaging said sleeves to form yielding means resisting the pivotal movement of said arm.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 8 including means for locking said one end of said arm against axial withdrawal from said opening.
 9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises spaced portions, and a laterally extending member interposed between said spaced portions and extending from said spaced portion of said housing.
 10. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said pivot pin is provided in a reduced portion of the opening in said enlarged integral bearing portion of said housing.
 11. In a toilet support for use in a toilet bowl having hinge means hinging a toilet seat to the bowl about a hinge axis, the combination comprisiNg an arm having spaced ends and an intermediate hand-gripping portion, bearing means for mounting one end of said arm adjacent said hinge means the other end of said arm being held in said opening in said seat, said bearing means comprising a bearing portion, a pivot pin extending between said spaced portions and forming the hinge means for the toilet seat, said spaced portion having laterally extending opening into which the one end of the arm extends, plastic sleeves interposed between said one end of said arm and the sides of said opening, screws extending into and engaging said sleeves to form yielding means resisting the pivotal movement of said arm.
 12. The combination set forth in claim 11 including means for locking said one end of said arm against axial withdrawal from said opening.
 13. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises spaced portions, and a laterally extending member interposed between said spaced portions and extending from said spaced portion of said housing.
 14. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said pivot pin is provided in a reduced portion of the opening in said bearing portion. 